Franklin, TN Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- before any work commences
- Covers
- building, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing
- Issuing dept
- Building & Neighborhood Services
- Code adopted
- 2024 International Building Code
Summary
Franklin requires a permit before starting any work on a building, structure, or its electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems; starting without one draws a fee-schedule penalty.
Any person who commences any work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a penalty as specified in Appendix A of the City of Franklin Municipal Code, Comprehensive Fees and Penalties.
(4)Section 109.7, Reinspection Fee, is created and approved to read as follows: If in the opinion of the Building Official, after appropriate inspection, any construction inspected under the terms of this section fails to comply with the law, and notice is given to the permit holder or his agent, and any reinspection of the same work is required, then a fee as specified in Appendix A of the City of Franklin Municipal Code, Comprehensive Fees and Penalties, shall be assessed against and collected from the permit holder or his agent. No portion of the permitted work shall continue without first paying the reinspection fee.
(5)Section 109.8, Plan Review Fee, is created and approved to read as follows:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under the city's adopted 2024 International Building Code, Franklin regulates construction, alteration, repair, use, occupancy, and demolition of every building or structure in the city. The municipal code's own amendment to IBC § 109.4 spells out the permit trigger directly: anyone who commences work on a building, structure, or its electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits is subject to a penalty set in the city's comprehensive fee schedule. Permits are issued by the Building and Neighborhood Services Department, with plan-review and permit fees assessed under Appendix A.
Violations & Fines
Starting work before securing the required permit triggers a penalty set in Appendix A, Comprehensive Fees and Penalties, on top of the normal permit fee (§ 12-102(3)).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin
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